For More Information Contact the Public
Information Office:
Richard Vespucci
Jon Zlock
609-292-1126

For Release: June 4, 2003

MEDIA ADVISORY: Commissioner of Education William L. Librera to discuss
draft of the Special Review
Assessment White Paper during the midday State Board press briefing
today.

Commissioner Librera will distribute draft copies of the White Paper,
which is a review of the Special Review Assessment (SRA), a program for
alternate assessment for students failing a graduation requirement test,
during the DOEs midday State Board press briefing.

In 2002, the Department of Education reconvened a panel of stakeholders
to review the status of the states SRA program. The participants
shared their concerns about the process. The information obtained from
these meetings, along with research conducted by department staff, has
resulted in the development of a discussion paper entitled "White
Paper: New Jersey Special Review Assessment." This paper is presented
in draft form for review and comment.

As noted in the paper, New Jersey remains the only state to administer
a state-developed alternate assessment for students failing a graduation
requirement test.

Based on continued concerns and the results of our year-long study, the
department included the following key recommendations in the paper: the
elimination of the SRA; the creation of expanded remedial opportunities
for students failing the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA); the
development of an appeal procedure; and the award of a differentiated
diploma for students who fail to achieve proficiency on the HSPA, but
who do meet other graduation and attendance criteria.

For more information, please contact the Department of Education Public
Information Office at (609) 292-1126.